"Think you can get away? I'm afraid... it won't be that easy." A chill crept up my spine, as if a spider were crawling over my grave.
The voice—slick as snake oil, cold as a tomb—undoubtedly belonged to Guard Zhao.
My hand instinctively tightened around Xiaotao’s. Her fingers were as icy as the fear rapidly spreading through my heart. Before I could even process what was happening, chaos erupted. It was as if someone had flipped a switch, instantly transforming the tranquil palace garden into a whirlpool of clamor, clashing blades, and the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground. The air, which had been thick with the scent of jasmine a moment ago, was now heavy with the smell of blood and terror.
Chapter 159